Databases Series: Statista

Hello!  My name is Mikaila.  I am the Business and Career Librarian at Chester County Library, and I am back once more as a guest star on this series!  Today I’ll be introducing you to another of the library’s business databases.  A library database, for those who are unsure, is essentially just an online resource that the library pays for so that you can access it for free with your library card.

The business database that I’ll be discussing today is called Statista.  Statista is an international database that focuses on market and industry analysis.  While Reference Solutions can hone in on data surrounding your individual business and community, Statista looks at the big picture of how your business engages with the larger scale industry.  With Statista, you can view data on over one million market and consumer statistics covering 80,000 topics, 170 industries, and over 150 countries.  For E-commerce businesses, Statista can be invaluable in gathering the marketing and consumer insight that may be difficult to garner in such an expansive playing field.  Whether it’s to better understand your market or provide research for your business plan, you can download statistics, reports, market insights, and forecasts and surveys at your leisure.

Find Statista on our website by going to chescolibraries.org –> Tools and Research –> All CCLS Databases –> S –> Statista

This post is number fourteen in this databases series!  If you missed the previous installments, you can view them here. If you would like to read Mikaila’s first guest post, the one on another of our business databases called Reference Solutions, you can find it here.

Databases Series: Reference Solutions

Hello!  My name is Mikaila.  I am the Business and Career Librarian here at Chester County Library, and I’m excited to be the first guest star on this series!  In line with the former posts, I’ll be introducing you to one of the library’s databases.  A library database, for those who are unsure, is essentially just an online resource that the library pays for so that you can access it for free with your library card!

This week, I’ll be discussing Reference Solutions (formerly known as Reference USA).  Reference Solutions is a multi-database resource that focuses on U.S. and Canadian data.  I usually describe it as an in-depth white pages/yellow pages in which you can research information on over 104 million U.S. businesses and 322 million consumers.  This tool is invaluable to small businesses who are looking to do the following: research your competition, so you can see where your competition is located as well as a snapshot of their business to get an idea of their day-to-day operating; create mailing lists for vendors, B2B, and B2C; record data and download heat maps for your reference or to input in a business plan; and generally better understand how you and your market fit in your service area.  Reference Solutions is updated regularly to ensure your research is verified.

Find Reference Solutions on our website by going to chescolibraries.org –> Tools and Research –> All CCLS Databases –> R –> Reference Solutions

This post is number ten in this databases series! If you missed the previous installments, you can view them here.

Entrepreneurship Panel: Insights from Chester County Small Biz Owners

Join us for this exciting new panel featuring the unique perspectives of local small business owners as they share their entrepreneurship stories: how they got started, the resources they used, the lessons they learned along the way, and the advice they’d give people looking to start or grow their own business now.

Click here to register. Registration is required and will close 2 hours prior to the scheduled start time of the event. A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants 2 hours before the program starts. Make sure to check the email address you registered with to receive the link. You do not need a Zoom account to attend the virtual program.

This program supports PA Forward Financial Literacy.